Customer Service Career Opportunities

A number of people have asked what career opportunities exist for someone who has studied Customer Service.

The answer is very simple. To begin with, Customer service has evolved over the years. Traditionally, it has been known as the after-sales support function where product support and complaints were directed. For example, you buy a television set and once you start having problems, the issues where directed to the Customer Support Centre.

Over the years, this function and responsibilities have changed to a strategic role. The function has changed to Customer Service or more recently Customer Experience. It embraces Contact Centre and all customer e perience related issues. The Customer Service function is tasked with designing customer-friendly policies, processes and procedures. It is the custodian of the voice of the customer issues. It is responsble with the help of other departments for anaysing costs of Customer Service and Customer Profitability. In this regard, Customer Strategists are Imperative at a Strategic level within the organization.

At an operational level, the primary focus remains customer-interfacing. This area is fast expanding and the world over, there is a shortage of qualified and skilled personnel in the area of Customer Service.

Careers in Customer Service are far and wide. Customer service job titles are the descriptions of any job position that requires regular communication with customers to troubleshoot issues they are experiencing with a product or service and offer suggestions on what to purchase or how to use a specific product.

Many customer service jobs require candidates to have a variety of soft skills, which are the abilities that enable someone to interact with others effectively.

Typical Customer Service Job titles include:

1. Customer Strategist
2. Customer Success Manager
3. Customer Service Manager
4. Customer Experience Manager
5. Contact Centre Representative
6. Bank Teller
7. Medical Receptionist
8. Flight Attendant
9. Patient Coordinator
10. Client Relations Specialist
11. Concierge
12. Account Coordinator
13. Help Desk Analyst
14. Member Services Representative
15. Technical Support Representative
16. Service Advisor
17. Front Desk Manager
18. Cashier
19. Guest Service Agent
20. Paralegal

As you can see, the number of people working with customers directly on a full-time basis is endless. What is surprising is that majority of these people working in these positions have qualifications from other fields of study.

Hence studying for a qualification in this area offers one an opportunity to move across sectors.